I recently came across a series of articles written by Captain Ernst Olferman of the 97th Foot for The Royal Military Panorama, or Officers' Companion in late 1813 to early 1814. Olferman was a brigade major in the Light Division and then the 4th and 7th Divisions late 1810 into early 1811. The articles present a series of movements for a brigade field-day, taking them through scenarios such as advancing towards the enemy, receiving cavalry and withdrawing etc. They go into the depth of detail that you don't get in accounts of battles and as he expressly says he came up with them in the Peninsula I think they do offer some insight into how Wellington's army may have manoeuvred, more so than the manuals of the day.
For your convenience I have extracted the pages into one PDF. The original issues of the magazine from October 1813 through to February 1814 can be found on google books. I've attached the file to this post.
Well done, Rod - came up trumps again (this also partially - and further - answers my question on the Campbell thread about how the ad hoc light "battalion" operated). It would appear that Olfermann may have compiled this material whilst back in England recovering from wounds; he never returned to the Peninsula, but joined the Duke (of Brunswick) in Germany and helped him to raise the new "Black Horde" for the Waterloo campaign.
Rod M's reference to the abolition of "three ranks" is particularly interesting as the 1809 Brunswick corps, whilst raised and equipped with the aid of the Austrians, was actually trained by, and in the style of, the pre-1806 Prussian Fusilier battalions. Thus the main body of the infantry already fighting in two ranks, rather than the three of its Austrian allies.
BM
An excellent find which adds a lot of detail to how a Brigade operated in the field, particularly its light companies. I liked his comment that forming in three ranks was “quite abolished”.
Rod
I believe so, yes. I remember a thread about him on the Napoleon Series forum.
I take it Rob this is the same chap who took over command of the Brunswickers on the death of the Duke at Quatre Bras?
Brigade squares. I have never heard of the British using them in the Peninsula. A good read but quite hard to follow in places. Paul.
A very interesting find. Thanks!